Shopify is a hosted commerce platform for creating a storefront and managing the work behind it. Product listings, inventory, checkout, payments and orders share an administration workspace.
4.4/5(5,016)G2Paid online-store plans; Agentic AI channels have no monthly platform fee.
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Last checked: September 9, 2026
Our Take
Shopify is a strong starting point when the priority is operating a store with hosting, checkout and order administration already connected.
Hosted commerce infrastructure
Storefront and order administration together
Apps and payment costs add to the base fee
Staff and advanced controls depend on tier
Best for:
Solo usersSmall teamsGrowing businesses
Best use case: Launching a branded product catalog with checkout, inventory tracking and daily order fulfillment.
Fits solo merchants launching a store and teams managing larger online or retail operations.
Read the full assessment
Shopify is a strong starting point when the priority is operating a store with hosting, checkout and order administration already connected. Basic can serve a solo operator, while Grow becomes relevant when staff access matters. Before adding apps, check which requirements the platform already covers. Estimate the full operating cost using your payment mix and essential extensions; a lower payment rate may justify a higher tier at some sales volumes, but it is not automatically the cheapest choice.
Strengths
Hosted commerce infrastructure
Storefront and order administration together
Broad app and developer ecosystem
Online and in-person selling options
Tradeoffs
Apps and payment costs add to the base fee
Staff and advanced controls depend on tier
Custom workflows can require development
Country-specific payment terms need checking
Who it suits
New online merchants
Brands combining online and retail sales
Teams wanting hosted store operations
About Shopify
Shopify is a hosted commerce platform for creating a storefront and managing the work behind it. Product listings, inventory, checkout, payments and orders share an administration workspace. Merchants can connect online sales with supported social, marketplace and in-person channels, then extend the store through apps or custom development.
Basic covers a solo-operated store. Higher plans add staff capacity, lower published payment rates and more advanced commerce controls. The platform subscription is only one part of the budget: apps, domains, themes, payment processing, shipping and implementation may add costs.
Pricing & Plans
Prices use the currency shown. Tax, usage limits and billing terms vary by provider.
Save up to 26%
Recommended
Basic
$39/mo
Core store plan for solo entrepreneurs.
Selling online, in person, and in AI chats
Built-in AI assistant
Millions of tokens
Hosted storefront and themes
Full plan details & limits
Core store plan for solo entrepreneurs.
$39 USD/month
Unlimited products
Checkout and order management
Inventory and analytics
10 inventory locations
No additional staff accounts included
Card rates from 2.9% + 30¢ USD
Grow
$105/mo
Core store plan above Basic.
Everything in Basic
Up to 5 staff accounts
Up to 87% off shipping
Card rates from 2.7% + 30¢ USD
Full plan details & limits
Core store plan above Basic.
$105 USD/month
Advanced
$399/mo
Core store plan above Grow.
Everything in Grow
Up to 15 staff accounts
Live 3rd-party shipping rates
Region tailoring
Full plan details & limits
Core store plan above Grow.
$399 USD/month
Card rates from 2.5% + 30¢ USD
Plus
Variable cost
Higher-tier plan for advanced commerce needs.
Everything in Advanced
Unlimited staff accounts
Fully customizable checkout
Up to 200 POS Pro locations
Full plan details & limits
Higher-tier plan for advanced commerce needs.
From $2,300/month on a three-year term; confirm contract total
Unlimited B2B catalogs
Priority 24/7 phone support
Starting rate requires a three-year contract
One-year contract starts at $2,500/month
More plans, volume options & API pricing (1)
Agentic — AI channels
$0/mo
Catalog distribution and selling through supported AI channels.
Submit products to Shopify Catalog
Choose supported AI sales channels
Separate from a full Shopify online-store plan
Payment fees apply when sales occur
Full plan details & limits
Catalog distribution and selling through supported AI channels.
Customer ratings from the linked platforms, separate from our recommendations. Scores and counts can change; each platform uses its own review process.
Integrations & connectionsHow Shopify fits into your workflow
Free plan: Not listed for this product. Free trial: Available; check eligibility with the provider.
Cost considerationsBilling, usage limits and additional fees
US base subscriptions: Basic $39/month, Grow $105 and Advanced $399; annual billing advertises monthly equivalents of $29, $79 and $299. Plus starts at $2,300/month on a three-year term or $2,500 on a one-year term, with contract-specific costs. US standard online card rates start at 2.9% + $0.30, 2.7% + $0.30 and 2.5% + $0.30 respectively; other payment types and countries differ. Third-party gateway fees can also apply. POS Pro is an add-on advertised at $89/month per location. Agentic has no platform subscription fee but is a separate AI-channel offering with payment costs. The three-day trial and introductory $1 offer are temporary.